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23. Rauw-ay man n'ppiances. A j! (No Model.)

P. BRINKERHGFP.

GAR GOUPLING. A No, 329,266. Patented 0615.27, 1885.

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SPEFICATION fcrming part gif-Letters Patent No. 329,266, dated October 27, 188.5.

Application tiled June 8, 1885. Serial No. 168,091.

(Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PARCEL BRINKERHOFF, acitizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek. in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented cert'ain'new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and ligures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a longitudinal section of the opposing draw-heads, showing my improved coupling in elevation; Fig. 2, a cross-section taken on line a; of Fig. l; and Fig. 3, a detail view, in perspective and on an enlarged scale, of the hooked end of one of the coupling-bars.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simple and effective coupling for the draw-heads of railroad-cars; and it consists in the details of construction, substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A B represent, respectively, t-he opposing draw-heads coupling-bars C D. 'Ihese bars at their4 in' ner ends are pivoted to the sides of the drawheads by bolts a, one end of said bolts passing through elongated slots b, longitudinal with the draw-head and in the side thereof, to allow suihcient lateral or sidewise movement of the coupling-bars. The bars C D at their outer ends and contacting faces are'formed with hooks E, which are inclined at c and inclined at d, these inclinations being at different angles, the apex of the two angles being convex, as shown at e. The coupling-bars are each provided with a short rod, F, one

end thereof being rigidly secured to the outer side of the bar and passing through a hole, f,

in the draw-head and terminating in a ring,

g, thus permitting one of the coupling-bars to be drawn back out of engagement with the opposing bar, the doubleangles of the hooks E and the rounding of the apex of the angles insuring a perfect locking of the hooks when brought together, and admitting of their being readily disengaged when required. Upon the interior sides of the draw-heads are inclined planes G, the lowest point thereof being at or Vfnet'tr the center ofl the draw-head, so Athat when the rings or rods F draw on the coupling-bars C D the inclined planes, as the bars are broughtfagainst them, will force the bars outward in a sidewise or lateral di rection. rlhis motion is allowed by reason of the elongated slots b, through which the pivotal bolts a pass, this motion of the coupling-bars rendering 6o them more easily and readily disengaged from each other. When the coupling-bar is released, it will slide down the inclined plane to resume its normal position at the center of the draw-head. Springs H are connected to the interior of the draw-head, their free ends bearing against the outer sides of the coupling-bars, so thathwhen the latter are drawn back the springs willl assist them in being carried tothe center of the draw-heads. The 7o employment of the springs, however, is not at all times necessary, and should they become out of order or break the coupling of the draw-heads would be as secure, the inclined plane serving the purpose; but around curves, where one lrail is much lower than the other, it is well to provide against danger by accidental uncou'pling, and for this reason the springs are used, as above described. The hooked ends of the coupling-bars are prefer- 30 ably made very wide, and in order to admit of cars `of different heights being coupled slots' h are formed in one side of each drawhead, by means of which access can be had to the coupling-bars to adjust them. It should be noticed that there are two hooks upon the end of each coupling-bar, so that when the cars are going around a curve and one of the hooks on each bar is playing outward, the other pair of hooks will'be brought more firmly to- 90 gether; hence the advantage of employing two hooks in place of one on the coupling-bars.

The draw-heads A B are provided with supports I for the coupling-bars.

A car-coupling as above described is not only simple and effective, but is capable of being manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by roo Letters Patent, is-d 1. In a car-coupling, hooked coupling-bars pivoted at their inner ends in elongated slots through one side of the draw-heads and provided with operating-rods connected to the i bolts passing through elongated slots therein, Io hars, in combination with inclined planes asand for the purpose specified. g

upon the inner side vof the draw-heads, sub- In testimony that I claim the above I have stantiaily as vand for the purpose specified. hereunto subscribed my name in the presence 5 2. A oar-coupling consisting of the drawof two Witnesses.

heads, provdedwithinolinedplanes,supports, PARCEL BRINKERHOFF. and springs, and hooked coupling-bars hav- Witnesses: ing operating-rods connected to them and N. E. HUBBARD,

pivotally' supported in the draw-heads by L. R. FRENCH. 

